Chapter One – Awakening in the Ring
The first thing I heard was the hum of a crowd.
Not the kind of low chatter you hear before a concert—this was a restless, hungry buzz. Boots stomped on metal bleachers, voices rose in chants I didn't recognize, and the smell of sweat, smoke, and anticipation hung thick in the air.
My eyes snapped open. I wasn't in my apartment anymore. I was standing in the center of a wrestling ring.
"...What the hell?" My voice echoed off the ropes.
Overhead, spotlights burned down, painting me in white fire. Beyond the ropes stretched a small arena—half the seats filled with shadowy fans who chanted for blood like it was the only thing that mattered.
Then I heard her.
"Well, well. Finally awake."
The voice came from everywhere at once—smooth, mocking, with just enough warmth to make me uneasy. And then she appeared: a woman in white and gold, sitting sideways on the top rope as if she'd been there the whole time. Long hair shimmered like liquid sunlight, and her eyes sparkled with a dangerous sort of amusement.
"Who the hell are you?" I demanded.
She grinned, teeth sharp and flawless. "Call me Xena. Goddess. Audience. Judge. Take your pick. You've been chosen, little Rose."
"Chosen for what?"
"To run the only wrestling show that matters."
A chill spread down my arms. "That's—no. That's insane."
"Is it?" She stretched like a cat, then snapped her fingers.
A holographic interface bloomed in front of me: crimson roses twining around glowing menus.
[System Activated]
Welcome, Alice "Rose" James.
Role: Promoter & Wrestler.
Arena: The Garden.
Starting Resources: 30 Summon Tickets.
Note: Only YOU may wield Talents.
I staggered back, heart pounding. "What is this?"
"The System," Xena purred. "My little toy, now yours. You'll summon wrestlers, book shows, build your empire. Please me, and you'll thrive. Bore me…" Her smile sharpened. "Well, let's not bore me."
"You're serious."
"Oh, dead serious. You want out? Survive the crowd. Win their love. Or die trying. Either way, I'll be entertained."
The crowd roared as if they'd heard her.
I clenched my fists. Wrestling wasn't just a sport to me—it had been my obsession since I was a kid. Undertaker. Hardy. Bálor. Theatrics, risks, glory. I lived for that magic, even as a fan. And now? Now it was life or death.
Xena leaned forward, golden hair falling over her shoulder. "Use your tickets, Alice. Summon your roster. Let the Garden bloom."
The System chimed again, menus pulsing like a heartbeat.
[Summon Available: 30 Tickets]
Confirm: First Draw?
My hands shook. I looked at the goddess, at the crowd, at the ropes beneath my fingers.
"Fine," I muttered. "Let's play your damn game."
I tapped Confirm.Alright — let's dive straight into Chapter One, Part Two, where Alice makes her first summons.
I'll keep it cinematic, dialogue-driven, and system-heavy, while making sure all phrasing is unique and polished.
The screen bloomed red, petals swirling across its surface. My pulse thudded in my ears as glowing text scrolled.
[Summon: Ticket #1 Activated]
Light shot upward, painting the ring in scarlet. The crowd gasped as a silhouette formed in the haze—a massive figure in full body armor, shoulders broad as a wall, eyes glowing blue beneath a helmet shaped like a medieval knight's.
He stepped forward, boots cracking the canvas.
"Designation: Titan," the System announced. "Rank: SSS."
The armored man dropped to one knee before me, voice metallic but steady. "Command me, Lady Rose."
The crowd exploded. I stood there stunned, my throat dry. An SSS on the first pull?
Xena smirked on the ropes. "Beginner's luck. Don't get cocky."
I swallowed hard and clicked the next ticket.
[Summon: Ticket #2 Activated]
This time, a swirl of black mist oozed from the canvas, shaping itself into a pale woman draped in velvet, her crimson eyes sharp enough to cut. A sly smile curved her lips as she flicked a rose petal from her shoulder.
"Designation: Lilith," the System intoned. "Rank: A."
Lilith's gaze slid across Titan, then settled on me. "Oh, darling, I hope you're more entertaining than you look."
The crowd whistled and jeered, loving her arrogance.
I clenched my jaw. Two pulls, two extremes. Alright. Again.
[Summon: Ticket #3 Activated]
A clown stumbled into the ring—juggling pins that promptly smacked him in the head. His bright green wig tilted sideways as he bowed with exaggerated flair.
"Designation: Jingles. Rank: D."
The arena erupted with laughter. Jingles honked his nose, then fell flat on his face.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You've got to be kidding me."
Xena laughed so hard she nearly fell off the turnbuckle. "Oh, this is going to be delicious."
The System pulsed again, asking if I wanted to continue. My blood was running hot, nerves on fire, but I couldn't stop now.
One ticket after another, wrestlers materialized—strange, powerful, ridiculous.
A gooey blob that bounced across the ring like a jelly wrestler. [Designation: Blob. Rank: D.]
A masked luchadora no taller than five feet, but with eyes that promised murder. [Designation: La Espina. Rank: B.]
A silent mime who climbed invisible ladders and startled the crowd by pulling on ropes that weren't there. [Designation: Mimeo. Rank: C.]
By the tenth summon, I was sweating, overwhelmed by the growing chaos inside the ring. Titan towered like a statue, Lilith lounged against the ropes as if she owned the place, Jingles rolled on the mat pretending to be dead, and Blob had glued itself to the turnbuckle.
"Not bad for a start," Xena drawled. "A mess, but potential. Exactly what I like."
The System flickered again.
[Tutorial Match Unlocked]
Requirement: Book One Exhibition.
Roster: Select 2 Wrestlers + Yourself.
I blinked. "Wait—myself? I'm not ready for this!"
The crowd roared louder, stomping, chanting my name: ROSE! ROSE! ROSE!
Xena leaned down, whispering in my ear though she hadn't moved an inch. "Ready or not, the Garden is hungry. Give them blood, little Rose."
My heart hammered. I glanced at Titan, Lilith, and the disaster clown flopping on the mat.
This was it. My first show. My first match. My first step into hell.
I straightened, pulling the ropes tight in my fists. "Alright then. Let's wrestle."
The arena lights cut to black, the crowd's roar deafening. The Garden had officially bloomed.